Sometimes it is difficult to know where to start. There is a useful article from WordStream that can help you get started.
Usually the Oxinity talks that we have via YouTube every Friday inspire me. The topics are really engaging and a big help for teachers, both experienced and new to the field. These topics give me some inspiration and a starting point for my blog posts. I think I am still trying to find my “voice” as a blogger. Right now, I post about content I think is interesting to teachers and maybe give insight into the world of teaching for students as well.
Other Oxinity teachers use popular culture to connect to students. Aprende Ingles con Monica is a movie and tv series junkie. Check out her posts! Seriously, very entertaining and fun! Other sources online can be useful. For example, one article from Edutopia suggests to create a pinterest board or to look at other teacher blogs for inspiration. Also, there are some really amazing guides online! For example, Teach Junkie has a step-by-step guide on creating an awesome teacher blog.
I was writing posts every month, but now I try to post every week or so. I read an article from Teaching ESL Online about some tips from successful online teachers who say that it is not important to blog often, but when you do, make sure the content is interesting and informative. Also, make sure the posts are around 1,500 words.
The ability to share the blog posts in and with different interfaces (i.e. ipads, mobiles, etc.) as well as social media platforms would be a great tool. Another feature that may prove useful is the ability for other teachers and students to comment on the blog posts. This could provide a more interactive environment and almost give instant feedback.
Having ‘long tails” helps a lot! These are taglines or subtitles in a way for your blog. These can be very helpful! Remember to keep them fun and eye-catching!
I usually try to connect the lessons with relevant topics in the news or interests that I know the student has. If the conversation is really interesting, I will post about it on my social media platforms or even include it in a blog post. Another Oxinity teacher, Torleif Villmones, creates video posts which are very educational. Check out his posts!
I think my next challenge will be to try to teach with my blogs as some teachers already have found to be a successful tool. For an example, take a look at the blog Half An Hour.
Oxinity is a unique teaching experience because of our teaching styles. We have energetic and fluid teachers and well as dedicated and focussed teachers. We have teachers from all different corners of the world with all different backgrounds. Nevertheless, all of the Oxinity teachers have the basic outline of the class structure (as with the safety net). Also, we all transmit confidence. From the first class, the students will be able to see professionalism in the teacher. That is why we offer a free class! We trust that the student will come back based on the first impression. We are constantly learning from the Oxinity community. That is our brand.
Having a blog is very important because we engage people with us directly. My website is my first and most important way to communicate and interreact with prospective and existing students.